Disney and Marvel Games Showcase Recap
Article by Kieran Burt.
D23 has kicked off with a quick update on some of the games that it’s currently working on, and it also announced several new games that will be developed in the upcoming years. This showcase was quite light on reveals for consoles, though anyone who enjoys mobile gaming should be pleased with the selection shown.
Tron: Identity was the first game shown, and while there was an announcement teaser there was little shown, with the logo lighting up. Tron: Identity will be a detective focused game, with players solving puzzles to advance the story. The game will be set thousands of years after Tron: Legacy, so it’s possible that there might be a few connections to the film franchise, even though it was released 12 years ago in 2010.
Illusion Island will be a game exclusive for Nintendo Switch, with a trailer showcasing a platformer very similar to the Rayman games, though with Goofy, Donald the Duck and Mickey and Minnie mouse. The graphics give it a Paper Mario style. This game will have players retrieving books of knowledge in order to save Monarch. Players will be able to play this game in local co-op or single player, releasing in 2023.
Marvel Midnight Suns fans will be able to partly rejoice the game is no longer delayed indefinitely but will be released on December 2, 2022, though only for PC, Xbox Series X|S and Playstation 5. The Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Playstation 4 versions have yet to get a release date. Audiences were treated to a gameplay trailer showcasing the strategy game, as well as a teaser for prequel shorts about each of the heroes, releasing October 31, 2022.
Mobile players were able to get information about two new mobile games centred around Marvel, and learn about an upcoming update for Marvel Strike Force. Marvel World of Heroes is an augmented reality game, with players crafting their own superhero identity and teaming up Marvel characters. It’s being made by Niantic, the developers behind other AR games such as Pokemon Go.A release date is currently marked for 2023
Marvel Snap is a new card game, launching on October 18, 2022 for mobile and PC. Awkwafina narrates the description of the video, with players being able to use 150 different cards. Players will fight for control of the board using their favorite superheroes, with different effects depending on card matchups. The game will receive more cards through seasonal updates, keeping the roster fresh.
Marvel Strike Force will receive an update on September 13 2022, adding Red Hulk to the mobile game. A short teaser shows Red Hulk fighting Abomination, though Red Hulk quickly gets blown across the desert by an oil truck exploding. Apocalypse is there to offer Red Hulk a hand in getting up, teasing Red Hulk becoming one of his horsemen. Players will be able to see Red Hulk added to the game in just a few days’ time.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga has more characters coming to the videogame later in the year, with the likes of Captain Rex, Reva, and Cassian Andor joining the already over 300 playable characters in the game. These will form part of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Obi Wan Kenobi and Andor character packs. Other character packs include The Book of Boba Fett, Star Wars: Rebels, and Summer Vacation. These will be released later this fall, as part of the new Galactic Edition.
Aliens: Dark Descent revealed a quick look at new gameplay for the tactical squad-based game shown off at the Summer Games Fest. This gameplay captures the excellent human against Xenomorph action, looking similar to the XCOM series of games. Aliens: Dark Descent will release on consoles and PC during 2023.
The mobile game Disney Mirrorverse will receive an update, adding some of the company’s most well-known villains. Oogie-Boogie, Ursula, Maleficent and Jafar all make an appearance in the teaser video, and will be coming to the game. Disney Mirrorverse released earlier this year and is an Action-RPG. Before this announcement, most of the playable characters were heroes, so this update will be a welcome addition.
Disney Speedstorm, a free to play racing game, received a trailer showcasing the many different racers that players will be able to play as in the game, with Jack Sparrow, Mulan, Mickey Mouse and others all being part of the ensemble. It looks similar to Mario Kart, with insane tracks and a battle mechanic, meaning players will be able to swipe opponents out of the way. Disney Speedstorm will release before the end of 2022, though has no firm date yet.
Disney Dreamlight Valley got news that there is already an expansion in the works, with the main focus of the announcement trailer being the true to size additions of Woody and Buzz Lightyear coming sometime this fall. Disney Dreamlight Valley has only been out for a few days, but appears that game developer Gameloft isn’t resting on their laurels with updates.
Disney also revealed that there is another Avatar game in the works, though for mobile devices only. Avatar Reckoning gives players the opportunity to jump into the rich world of Pandora, with the developer update video promising that the game will be a MMORPG crossover, with players able to team up or play against one another. The game will take place after the first Avatar film and the Battle at the Hallelujah Mountains. Players will be able to fully customise their character. As of now, the game has no set release date.
Skydance New Media revealed their upcoming Marvel game, with an atmospheric teaser, communicating to the audience this will be set in World War Two. Players will be able to play as four different characters, Captain America, Black Panther, and two unknowns, likely fighting HYDRA. Very little else is known about the game, with the title still remaining unknown.
